2021 São Paulo Grand Prix - Interlagos, Nov 12-14

[Bill]

people forget one important truism which Max never came into contact with lewis else he would probably given 5 second penality like perez in speilberg .you also allowed to change direction ones so blocking an oponent is not illegal

[El Scorchio]

They just knowingly bottled the call as they didn't want to deal with the fallout of making a potentially championship deciding decision. I think it's as simple as that. (Not to mention completely wrong- shouldn't even enter their thinking) I expect they (stewards/Masi) were all mighty relieved when Hamilton managed to pass cleanly and win the race. Best possible outcome for them.

Mercedes are completely correct to push this further now the footage is available, though. It doesn't seem there was any intention of making the corner. Just to remain ahead at any cost, or to go back to Monza, the 'I'm coming out of this corner ahead or neither of us is coming out of this corner at all.'

[AeroDynamic]

A thought occurred to me, why don’t the drivers and FIA have a pre race debrief, and agree which areas / corners you can and cannot run someone off road? And keep it simple; you cannot go beyond the white lines with a competing racer alongside you. And you have to give racing room within the boundaries of the track if the outside driver was ahead of you before the apex.

For example, if they did this in Austria, everyone agree you cannot run a racer outside the track at turns 4 or 6 where the gravel is, because it significantly impedes their drive and is devoid of sportsmanship / fair racing.

This in my opinion should’ve applied in Imola as well, outside turn 2; those bumps significantly impedes another drivers drive, even causing damage.

If the drivers know where they can and can’t do things, it’s black and white and easier to keep consistent.

[SiLo]

1. They almost collided in Imola where Lewis had to take to the curb to try and avoid an accident.
2. They almost collided in Spain where Lewis had to back out to avoid an accident.
3. They collided in Silverstone when Lewis didn't back out and neither did Max.
4. They collided in Monza when Lewis didn't back out and neither did Max.
5. They almost collided in Brazil when Lewis backed out and took to the run off to avoid an accident.

Separate to the above.

1. Bottas got run onto the grass in Brazil after trying to back out and avoid an accident.

[NathanOlder]

On another note,it was awesome to watch how Hamilton set Verstappen up in T1 (twice). He knows that Max will defend hard anything that even resembles a move in near proximity coming from anyone,more so from Hamilton , and used Verstappen's own weapon against him even though he wasn't even close of making a move stick and Max fell for it.

Yeah I mentioned this the other day, why the hell was Max defending in to turn 1 like that when Lewis wasn't close enough. Like you say, Lewis used Max's own weapon agianst him. Max defended this was as he clearly thought Lewis would make a move in to turn 1. Lewis was obviously in Max's head over this as I guess Max had watched the sprint race and saw Lewis make nearly all his moves in to turn 1. In to turn 1 , Lewis jinxed, Max jumped, Lewis passed.

[bonjon1979]

This is says it all really. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/vide ... 88221.html

[NathanOlder]

This surely has to have a huge say on the review of the incident, how anyone can not see a penalty in this , is insane.

Not only was it around 40 km/h faster, he was on a tighter line which means you need to be slower anyway. So he was nearer 50 km/h too fast to make the corner!!

[F1NAC]

They should appoint Pirro for every race as a stewart. Judging by that penalty in Austria

[NathanOlder]

all these merc fans who want Max to be penalise are being hypocrites lewis had a history running oponents offtrack and getting away with it eg Albon in Austria .they know in a far fight he lose against Max only grotesgue straight line speed and downright taking Max off racetrack like in silverstone will win him champ

Lewis got a penalty that day , and I think the fans were complaining about it being harsh because of 2 reasons,

1, Lewis never left the track
2, When they touched Albon still had all 4 wheels on track, so you could argue that Lewis left enough space.

If you are saying the Brazil incident with Max and the Austria incident with Albon are the same or even similar, then I suggest you rewatch them both and see where the cars are placed in both incidents.

[NathanOlder]

Mercedes are completely correct to push this further now the footage is available, though. It doesn't seem there was any intention of making the corner.

Exactly, just imagine if there was a barrier on the edge of the curb, both cars would have smashed in to the barrier. Now if there really was a barrier there, no way does max make that defensive attemp. Therefore he chose to do what he did, he intended to run Lewis off that wide, he chose to do it. It wasnt a mistake.

[djones]

This is says it all really. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/vide ... 88221.html

Yes, this is pretty much perfect.

And he will have been asked to tone it down as it's on the actual F1 site.

[Just_a_fan]

all these merc fans who want Max to be penalise are being hypocrites lewis had a history running oponents offtrack and getting away with it eg Albon in Austria .they know in a far fight he lose against Max only grotesgue straight line speed and downright taking Max off racetrack like in silverstone will win him champ

The Albon incident ended up with a penalty.

In a fair fight, drivers don't do what Max did.

So your whole post is basically incorrect.

[El Scorchio]

This surely has to have a huge say on the review of the incident, how anyone can not see a penalty in this , is insane.

Not only was it around 40 km/h faster, he was on a tighter line which means you need to be slower anyway. So he was nearer 50 km/h too fast to make the corner!!

https://i.imgur.com/ZAL5Fn0.jpg

That's all you need to see, really! 'The title is on the line' explains the desperate action but it doesn't justify or excuse it.

I don't usually agree with Coulthard because (just my opinion) I think he's a woeful commentator and pundit, but I think he's right post race on channel 4 in that Verstappen has used up his 'joker' for the remainder of the season now, between that and the weaving. Anything similar now will likely result in a penalty and he will lose the benefit of the doubt because the intent in these close situations has become clear. I really don't want him to go down the Schumacher Jerez 1997 route, but I fear he might.

[Just_a_fan]

people forget one important truism which Max never came into contact with lewis else he would probably given 5 second penality like perez in speilberg .you also allowed to change direction ones so blocking an oponent is not illegal

There was no contact because Hamilton drove off the track to avoid the contact. This wasn't skillful positioning by Max, it was skillful avoidance by Lewis.

You can change your line once after taking up a defensive position on the approach to the corner but, and this is crucial, you have to leave a car's width. Max didn't leave any width at all. So he'd bang to rights there too if you want to use that line of argument.

[AeroDynamic]

When you think about it. If only one driver is racing within the rules, and the other is allowed to race outside of the rules… well…

“ Let them race ” is becoming “ let max ‘race’ ”